From Stephen B: I enjoyed your recent article on the advantages of a neck knife. It would be helpful to know the type of neck knife you carry since it works for you (and you’re the pro).

Answer: I wear a custom neck knife that I had made for me. Pictures are below. I like a small knife that fits in a kydex sheath and that I can quickly deploy, which is what my knife does. Also, don’t buy some cheap Chinese neck knife for $10, invest in quality.

        

From Cliff T: I am sure if microchips in humans are implemented we would only get the benefits of the medical part firsts, then they would step in and use it for global identification, which is what scares the hell out of me. What do you think about microchipping animals though? My vet recommends it, but now I’m not so sure.

Answer: You make a great point that microchiping a human leads to major privacy concerns. Clearly, it’s not something I would be open to and the reality is it could reveal tons of personal information. With that being said, I would definitely recommend microchipping your animals. Most microchips used on animals are only capable of holding a tiny amount of data and don’t have GPS tracking. So if you ever lost your animal a vet could scan the microchip number and call the specific company to get your contact information. One of the biggest reasons I recommend microchipping your animal is because it can prove ownership of the animal. Basically, if you have a dog and someone stole it, the police could use the microchip to prove you are the owner.

From Becky P: I have a problem. A security expert says I’m being stalked. Some idiots put malware on my phone they read my texts and emails and listen to my phone conversations. What should I do?

Answer: First, you need to get rid of your phone and get a new one. Some people recommend just doing a reset of your phone, which will erase everything but I personally wouldn’t risk it not working. You may want to consider getting an untraceable phone such as one you can buy at Wal-Mart. No matter where you get your next phone you need to make sure it’s password protected and that no one can ever access your phone. You should also download a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to your phone, which will help keep you safe when using the internet on your phone.

From John M: Hey Jason, I’m new to this whole “prepper” thing and I’m really overwhelmed with everything I need to do. Where’s the best place to start? Can you give me like the three most important things I should do first? Right now I have nothing…

Answer: The first three things I would work on when it comes to preparedness are water, food, and security. Humans can only survive about three days without water, which is why it’s #1 on my list. I would look into getting a water filter as well as storing water in your home. For storing water I would consider WaterBricks, since they are small enough you could take them with you in an emergency. Next, I would build up your food storage but this is something you can do slowly over time. In other words, each time you go to the grocery store you could spend an extra $5 or whatever is in your budget and buy canned goods and other items for food storage. Finally, I would make sure you have security measures in place. This could be purchasing a gun or installing a home security system in your home.

From Delores R: What should I do with my pets if I have to bug out? Seeing all these abandoned animals in Texas is breaking my heart and it got me thinking. What kind of preparations should I make so my animals can bug out with me?

Answer: When you’re building up food storage I would consider adding extra food for your pets. In addition, I would prepare a small bug out bag for your animals that includes their food and medication. Also, don’t forget to add extra water to your storage for all your pets.